Trolley-head for electric tram-cars.



No. 792,634. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

S. R. THOMPSON.

TROLLEY HEAD FOR ELECTRIC TRAM CARS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN.17, 1905 XSHEETS-SHBET 1.

11mm: i g jm'mlbr PATENTED JUNHZO, 1905.

s. R. THOMPSON. TROLLBY HEAD FOR ELECTRIC TEAM CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-17,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UN TED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT Orrice.

TROLLEY-HEAD FOR ELECTRIC TRAlVl-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,634, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed January 17,1905. Serial No. 24:1,t21.

To all whom, it nut/y concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL RICHARDSON THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of lValton, Liverpool, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to the Trolley Heads of Electric Tram Cars, of which the following is a specification.

These improvements refer to the trolleyheads of electric tram-cars, and have for their object to provide for automatic lubrication between the trolley-wheels and the overhead wire, and thereby reduce the excessive wear which now takes place with such wheels.

Upon the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a side exterior elevation of a trolley-head and pulley with one form of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 illustrates a vertical section of the lower front part. Fig. 3 illustrates a further side elevation of a trolley-head and pulley with another form of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 4E is-a vertical section of this last-named application in part.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the trolleyhead, which at the part which comes directly below the pulley Z) is formed with a cylindrical chamber 0. Passing centrally through such chamber is the axis (Z of the pulley-swivel fork (2, its lower end extending slightly below the chamber 0. Upon such axis is a loose piston f, neatly and slidably fitting the axis (5 and neatly and slidably fitting the chamber 0. Into the lower end of the said axis is screwed a screw-threaded rod r and around such rod lies a spiral spring It, also a nut e. The axis (Z is hollow for a part of its length, and into such hollow part opens a series of holes (Z Fitting into such axis and above the said holes is a tube 7', having a small bore and extending to a point immediately below the pulley b, where it carries a small feed-pulleyKawhich yieldingly presses, by reason of rubber pads l' below its axis, against the periphery of the pulley 7/, as shown.

lVithin the cylindrical chamber a is placed a supply or block of semisolid lubricant, and when such block is first introduced the piston flies at its lowest point in the chamber, as

shown. Therefore, with the nut 23 tightened up and spring it put under compression it causes the piston to move upward and slowly press the lubricant through the cross-passages (Z into the tube j and through the tube onto the wheel k, which rotating by the friction of the trolley-pulley conveys the lubricant to the periphery of the pulley, and thus lubricates the same.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show how the improved lubricator instead of being integral with the trolley-head is made as an attachment, and instead of the piston moving to feed the lubricant the cylinder moves. The piston f is formed in one with the tube j, which extends through the hollow axis (Z, this latter being tapped and the tube y'screw-threaded to effect the connection, as shown in Fig. 4. On the neck connecting them is a nut for tightening purposes, and in such neck part and the piston are passages Z leading into the cylinder cand into the bore of the tube f. (See Fig. 4:.) Centrally depending from the piston is a screw-threaded rod m, upon which is slidably mounted the cylinder 0, which also slidably fits the piston f, a spring 11, and a nut 0. Upon the cylinder being filled with lubricant, as shown, and the spring a tightened up the cylinder then slowly moves up and drives the lubricant up through the passagesl and up through the tube j onto the pulley b.

What I claim is 1. A trolleyhead, a pulley and pulley swivel carried by said head, a tubular spindle passing through and screwing into the swivel, and means for feeding a lubricant through the said spindle and onto the pulley, as set forth.

2. A trolley-head, a pulley and pulleyswivel carried by said head, a cylinder and piston-the cylinder containing a supply of semisolid lubricant, a tubular spindle passing through and screwing into the swivel, and opening into the said cylinder, and means for causing the piston and cylinder to be moved relatively the one to the other and thereby force the lubricant out of the cylinder and through the spindle onto the pulley, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

S. R. THOMPSON. 

